Chapter Five

I'm going under (going under)
Drowning in you (drowning in you)
I'm falling forever (falling forever)
I've got to break through
I'm going under

Going Under – Evanescence – Fallen

Shannon could feel her heart sinking more and more with each passing street corner. Her mind was jostled and her heart was pounding with guilt and fear. It was really hard for her to accept what she had only just done an hour or so previous. The sight of Nanny #32 with her feet dipped in a pool of blood at the mercy of a dog like Rover was petrifying. She could not believe that Shaw could do what he had done and just drive away from it. He would never live up to his crimes. If he did he would do it in disguise. He would not say “I Shaw Flare killed Nanny #32 also known as Lydia Banks”. He would certainly not apologize for it. Did Nanny #32 have relatives? Were there people out there who cared about her more then anyone would ever care about her?

Her ears were ringing and the smell of pollution all around her was not a comfort to her troubled spirit. The deed she had done was surely going to kill her. She clutched fearfully at Shaw’s middle dreading the twists and turns that the bike made every once and a while.

“We’re almost there!” he shouted over the sound of the bike’s motor. Shannon nodded gratefully feeling more and more as though she would not be able to last much longer. They were on the highway and Rover was still following them with breathless anticipation and glee. He had never been so free!

Shannon was relieved when they arrived at a small one story home on the side of the road a little ways away from the next town. Shaw got off the bike and held Shannon’s hand and commanded Rover to sit and wait. Amazingly he did and the two siblings walked up to the door. Shaw rang the bell and waited patiently.

The door opened and a tall boy that looked to about eighteen stood in the doorway. He had long black hair and a bear. His eyes were a blazing blue and they looked down at the two on his doorstep with curiosity.

‘Shaw?” he inquired finally staring intently at Shannon’s brother. Shaw nodded. “Shaw Flare?” the boy inquired just to make sure he was absolutely correct. Shaw nodded again.

“I’ve come to ask you a bit of a favor Dick,” Shaw said getting right to business the way he always did. Shannon smiled slightly glad that there was some sign of familiarity amongst all the unfamiliar things. Dick looked down at Shannon with a bit of curiosity.

“Who’s that?” he asked being very straightforward. That was also a quality of Shaw’s too but that did not make Shannon like Dick any more then she did. she felt uncomfortable and shifted her weight from what foot to the next.

“My little sis,” Shaw explained simply nodding to Shannon. “She’s accompanying me now. Somewhat against her will I should think but its for her own good.” Dick nodded and then looked over towards the motorbike where Rover was waiting patiently for his master and Shannon.

“What’s the favor dude?” Dick asked looking quizzically at Shaw. Shaw nodded over towards Rover and the bike. Shannon’s hope instantly lifted. Would Dick take the dog? If Dick took the dog she would love him till the day she died!

“Err I kinda need someone to do some work for me for a reasonable fee,” Shaw said tentatively. Shannon realized that he was reconsidering. Uh-o! That might mean more motorbike! NOOOO!

“Really?” Dick raised an eyebrow and cocked his head.

“Err,” Shaw said again. “Do you think I could borrow your car?” Dick’s eyes widened even more but then he regained the quizzical look.

“Why do you need the car?” he asked folding his arms and leaning against the doorframe.

“Well you see my little Shan hates motorbikes,” Shaw explained nodding at Shannon again. Shannon nodded to prove his point. She stuck her tongue out too for the effect. Dick laughed a little at the gesture. “And we’re on our way to visit Grammy Flare in New Jersey and that’s a pretty long drive.” Dick nodded. Shaw continued, “so we were wondering if we could borrow your car for a few days or so and if you could maybe watch Rover too.” Shaw nodded at Rover who was making himself comfortable on the cement. “He’s a good dog most of the time but he just needs to be fed, daily and frequently. As I said I’ll pay you well for this.”

Dick looked at the dog and the bike for a long time and then looked back at Shaw and then down at Shannon. He stared longer at Shannon who found it more interesting to stare at her shoes.

“Please take the dog!” she begged suddenly unable to contain herself. Shaw looked at her sharply. “I hate him! He’s mean and stupid! I wish we didn’t have him at all! I’m sure you’d love him though he’s really friendly so long as he gets dinners breakfasts and lunches! I just don’t want him near me! I hate dogs! They’re scary! They bark and scratch and jump! Please just take him!” Shannon found herself begging on wobbly knees in front of the young adult. She could see his eyes widening as he stared down at her. He looked inquiringly at Shaw.

“She gets a little irksome sometimes,” Shaw explained quietly. “She really has this hateful feeling towards dogs that has so far to be understood. Whether it was something traumatic or just the mere sight of them I still don’t even know.” Dick nodded and looked sympathetically at Shannon.

“Ah well for your little sister’s sake I will take the mutt and the bike,” Dick decided finally after a long wait.

“Thank you,” Shannon said quietly. “It means a lot to me. I owe you one.” Shaw looked down at Shannon again and she looked at him wonderingly. Why was he so edgy and nervous all of a sudden? It was not a natural trait of his. Maybe he was just a little unnerved by the murderous act that he just committed only hours ago. Well who wouldn’t be? Even he had feelings deep down, whether he would admit them or not was a different story.

“Your welcome kid,” Dick said and tousled her hair and moved back into the house to put on a pair of shoes. Then he went out to the garage and got a car out and coming back to the door gave the keys to Shaw. Shaw then commanded Rover to come and the dog trotted right up to them looking up at Dick with what looked like interest and eagerness. Weird, but who knew with the stupid dog.

“Thanks a lot,” Shaw said jovially to Dick as he unlocked the car doors and Shannon eagerly hopped inside.

“Anytime!” Dick answered patting the dog absentmindedly on the head and waving to Shannon with the other. Shannon had originally disliked him but now that it all came down to kindness him taking the dog she liked him a lot more. She hoped that she would see him again.

Shaw closed the door behind him and backed out of the driveway. When they were on the highway again he looked over at Shannon who had gotten in the front seat. Shannon looked right back at him.

“You looked at me funny,” she said finally after he didn’t say anything. “When I told him I owed him one.” Shaw nodded as he moved slowly with the traffic. Then he finally explained his doings.

“Shan,” he said sighing deeply. “Dick is a far worse criminal then I will ever be. You think I’m bad with the whole Nanny situation well then you should see his record. That was my first kill Shannie. I was nervous too and I’m not used to the whole after affects and stuff but as I progress I’ll learn to push those feelings away. You will too eventually little sis. But anyway what you said was a bad thing to say to a criminal. Dick’s not going to forget that. He will ask you for that favor sooner or later. I would hope later you being so young. Maybe he’ll forget who knows. I highly doubt that though. I wish you had just kept your mouths closed,” he sighed deeply and turned a corner. “I wish you would do that a lot of times.”

Shannon fell silent thinking of the things that he had just told her. She hated herself for not being silent too. Why had she gone and gotten herself into trouble again? Dad had always been yelling at her for it when he was actually home! And all the nannies criticized her.

Shannon sank into the seat and sat pouting silently. Shaw eventually grew tired of the silence and turned on the radio. He looked at Shannon with worry in his eyes and then he turned back to the radio dial and flicked through until he found the rock station. A female voice filled the car with her beautiful vocals and chilling lyrics.

50,000 tears I’ve cried

Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you

And you still won’t hear me!

They wouldn’t hear me either, she mused sadly. They never have and they never will. It’s just how their selfish minds tend to function.

They were in the car for a good two hours more and Shannon was so relieved to see a hotel sign beaming in the distance. She smiled as they parked in the parking lot and Shaw stopped the car turning off a song that was called “Wasteland” that was in mid-play.

Shaw got out of the car and Shannon figured it was probably best to just follow whatever he did. Getting out of the car she took her backpack and slung it over her shoulders walking by Shaw into the hotel.

“How are we paying for this Shaw?” Shannon asked curiously already suspecting the answer she would receive,

“Borrowed some,” was all that Shaw answered however and Shannon was glad of that. She really did not want to know any more criminal acts that her big brother did behind her back or in front of her.

“You scaring me Shaw,” she said surprised at her own big mouth. Shaw looked at her intently. Then his eyes became sympathetic and he smiled a small smile at her.

“I’m sorry little sis,” he said patting her shoulder. “It was a necessary thing. I really regret this but it had to be done. You’ll get used to it. I think you may like this better then living with a Nanny all the time. I mean they weren’t much improvement over our mother so don’t feel as though that was the big flaw.” Shannon supposed that she was lucky not to have known her mother for too long or else she might have stood up for her. But instead she remained silent and let Shaw do the talking.

They got a two bedroom suite with a kitchen and dining room and living room connected all into one room.

“We’ll be staying here for a while,” Shaw said in an orderly tone. “Make yourself comfortable and stay out of trouble okay?” Shannon nodded and then watched as he made his way towards the door.

“Where are you going!?” she cried with a frightened squeak. “Shaw don’t leave please!” Shaw looked back at Shannon and walked over to her giving her a small hug. He let her cry into his jacket for a few minutes before letting her go.

“I have to go do some business Shan,” he explained. “I’ll be back before you before you know it. Watch TV or something!” Shannon nodded though she was not assured at all. Shaw left the suite and Shannon sank into the couch and cried her heart out for her tragic turmoil.